Sentinels for anchor lines



P 1962 v. J. LINSDEAU 3,055,332

SENTINELS FOR ANCHOR LINES Filed April 15. 1959 United States 3,055,332 SENTINELS FOR ANCHOR LINES Vernon J. Linsdeau, 22422 Alexander Blvd, St. Clair Shores, Mich. Filed Apr. 15, 1959, Ser. No. 806,552 2. Claims. (Cl. 114-206) This invention relates to improvements in sentinels for anchor lines. It has long been recognized that a sentinel or weight attached to an anchor line intermediately of its length materially reduces the weight of the anchor needed to hold a vessel from drifting, due to the fact that it lessens the angle of pull on the anchor. In addition such a weight also cushions the shock felt when the anchor line is drawn taut. Consequently many yachtsmen have adopted the practice of tying or otherwise attaching any suitable weight-not originally designed or intended for the purpose-to an anchor line to function as a sentinel. To do this, however, usually involves: Knotting the anchor line itself; tying a cord tight around the anchor line for securing the sentinel thereto; or bending a portion of the sentinel itself around the line. Not only are these means both clumsy and time consuming, but they also weaken the line considerably.

This invention aims to provide a sentinel having means thereon for attachment to a line intermediately of the length of the latter wherein the means for attachment of the sentinel to the line is so constructed that the sentinel may be quickly and easily secured to or removed from the line without the aid of tools, cord, or other auxiliary fastening means, and without knotting or splicing the line; and wherein attachment of the sentinel does not cause the line to be sufficiently sharply bent to form a permanent kink therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a sentinel having means thereon which may be attached to a line intermediately of the length of the latter without having to detach either extremity of the line from the anchor or the vessel, respectively, to which it is made fast.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a sentinel wherein both the weight itself and its attaching means are coated with a suitable material such as polyvinol to prevent them from damaging the vessel if the sentinel rolls upon or is dropped thereon; to prevent corrosion; and to prevent longitudinal slippage of the sentinel along the line.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such a sentinel: which may be mounted on lines of different thicknesses; which can be quickly and easily installed upon a line while the anchor end of the latter is still in the water; and which is so constructed that a plurality of them may be mounted in tandem on a line if greater sentinel weight than that afforded by a single unit is desired.

Having thus briefly and broadly stated some of the objects and advantages of the invention I will now describe it with the aid of the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view showing a vessel, an anchor, and a sentinel mounted on a line extending from the vessel to the anchor.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation showing a sentinel including a weight having a resilient retainer of special contour secured thereto which a line intermediately of its length may be readily secured or released.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view on the line 3-3 of FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view showing how a line is first brought into engagement with the resilient retainer, and

FIGURE 5 is a side view in the direction of the arrow 5 of FIGURE 4.

3,55,33Z Patented Sept. 25, 1962 FIGURE 6 is a plan view showing the next movement of the line when engaging it with the resilient retainer, and

FIGURE 7 is a side view looking in the direction of the arrow 7 of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a plan view showing the relative posi tions of the line and the resilient retainer just prior to the former assuming its final engaged position relative to the latter, and

FIGURE 9 is a side view taken in the direction of the arrow 9 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a slilghtly modified form of the invention, and shows the resilient retainer in engagement with a taut line the deflection of which is reduced by the pul being exerted on the line.

Referring to the diagrammatic View shown in FIG- URE 1, if a sentinel A is mounted on a line 13 extending between a vessel C and an anchor D, it not only increases the holding capacity of the anchor, due to the fact that that portion of the line between the sentinel and the anchor extends along the bottom of the river or lake in which the boat is located instead of at an upward inclination from the anchor, and it also eliminates unpleasant jerks experienced on the vessel if no sentinel is being employed and the anchor line suddenly becomes taut due to drifting of the vessel. For in such an event if a sentinel is being utilized it and the portion of the line extending between the anchor and the sentinel are gradually lifted, as indicated at B by the drifting of the vessel so that movement of the latter is gradually arrested.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 to 10, inclusive, the sentinel consists of a weight or member 2, or 2a, preferably in the form of a disc, to which the opposite extremities of a retainer 3 are suitably secured. In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 2 a substantially radial aperture 4 is formed in the periphery of the member, which in this instance is made of cast or forged iron or steel, and the extremities of the retainer 3 are welded or otherwise secured in the aperture indicated at 5. In the modification shown in FIGURE 10 the extremities of the retainer 3 are embedded in the member 2a which in this case is usually made of nonferrous material, preferably metal having a relatively low melting point, at the time the member is made.

The extremities of the retainer 3, which is preferably resilient and projects substantially radially outward from the periphery of the disc-like weight 2 or 2a, are wound substantially helically in opposite directions about their axesto form coils 6 which are substantially parallel to one another and extend through more than one and less than two complete turns. The extremities of the coils 6 remote from the member 2 or 2a terminate substantially in alignment with one another and are joined by a connecting portion 6a substantially tangent to and integral with the outer extremities of both the said coils. Moreover the connecting portion 6a is substantially parallel with and nearer to one face of the disc-like member than to the other. It will also be noted that portions of the lower turns 6b of the coils are normally substantially flat horizontally and not in true helical form. The inner extremities 6c of the lower turns 6b are therefore normally only slightly above their outer extremities 6d.

When it is desired to attach a sentinel A to a line B intermediately of its length an intermediate loop-like portion B is formed therein as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. This intermediate portion B is thrust forward between the lower extremities of the coils 6 adjacent the peripheral portion of the member 2, or 2a, from the side of the latter adjacent which the connecting portion 6a is positioned. Then the width of the loop-like portion is increased as shown at B in FIGURES 6 and 7, after which it is passed rearwardly, as indicated by the arrow E in FIGURE 7, over and around the tops of the coils 6 and the connecting portion 6a, by which time the width of the intermediate loop-like portion is reduced as shown at B in FIGURES 8 and 9. Finally the intermediate portion B is inserted between the coils 6 beneath the connecting portion 6a, and the opposite ends of the line are drawn taut to largely straighten it out and bring it into its normal retainer engaging position B shown in FIG- URES 2 and 3. When this has been done it will be found that whereas portions of the line B extend out- Wardly in opposite directions from beneath the lower turns 6b of the retainer the connecting portion of the line between the coils extends above the inner extremities 6c of the lower turns and beneath and inwardly relative to the connecting portion 6a, so that the line is engaged and firmly held by the retainer.

As may be seen from FIGURE 10, when some considerable pull is being exerted on the line B, which of course tends to straighten it, the inner extremities 6c of the lower turns of the coils are drawn down towards the member, and their outer extremities 6d are raised. Obviously the extent to which the retainer is distorted depends upon the tension exerted on the line, but under no circumstances can the retainer become sufiiciently distorted for the line to be completely straightened out, and consequently the retainer always maintains its grip upon the line.

It will also be noted that the member or weight 2, or 2a, and the retainer 3 are coated with suitable material, such as polyvinol, which not only affords resilience to prevent the sentinel damaging the vessel if it is dropped thereon, but it also assists in holding the line substantially immovable relative to the sentinel. This coating also protects the sentinel against corrosion, for it may be added that the retainer is frequently made of spring wire.

While in the foregoing the invention is described and shown as a sentinel for removable attachment upon an anchor line intermediately of the length thereof, it is of course understood that the construction herein described is equally applicable for the removable mounting of different sorts of members upon lines intermediately of their length.

What I claim is:

1. A sentinel adapted to be attached to a flexible line, comprising a weight, a resilient wire retainer the opposite extremities of which are secured to the Weight, said retainer including two opposed coils projecting laterally in a direction away from the weight, each coil having more than one turn and less than two, the axes of the coils being substantially parallel and spaced from one another on opposite sides of a plane passing through the weight to extend away from the weight with certain mutually opposed convolutions forming a line loop entrance space and adjacent convolutions forming a line loop receiving portion, and an intermediate portion of the wire retainer connecting the outer extremities of the coils to one another and being substantially tangent to them.

2. A sentinel adapted to be attached to a flexible line, comprising a weight in the form of a disc, a resilient wire retainer having its opposite extremities secured to the disc and projecting in a direction away and radially from the periphery thereof, spaced opposed coils formed by the retainer and extending outwardly from and parallel with the faces of the disc, said coils being equidistant from the disc, each coil consisting of more than one and less than two turns, said coils being wound in opposite directions with certain mutually opposed convolutions forming a line loop entrance space and other adjacent convolutions forming a line loop receiving portion, and an intermediate portion of the retainer connecting the outer extremities of the coils and being substantially tangent to them.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 872,221 Bright Nov. 26, 1907 1,771,406 Fountain July 29, 1930 2,202,976 Wise June 4, 1940 2,480,874 Neumann Sept. 6, 1949 2,530,324 Bumbera et a1, Nov. 14, 1950 2,709,287 Shelton et al. May 31, 1955 

